Cradle



T. H. PEARCE Sept. 30, 1958 CRADLE Filed March 5, 1956` United States Patent O CRADLE Thomas H. Pearce, Niles, Mich., assignor to National- Standard Company, Niles, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application March 5, 1956, Serial No. 569,402

4 Claims. (Cl. 140-149) The present invention relates to a cradle for a wire twisting machine, and more particularly to an improved split or two section form of cradle. The cradle is adapted to mount a plurality of wire holding spools disposed transversely of the cradle. The part containing the spools is removable as a unit. Several units or magazines are used; when the spools of one are exhausted another is inserted in its place. The purpose of the device is to reduce handling time throughout the process, and also to protect the spools and wire from damage, providing a more uniform product.

The nature of the invention will be more apparent from the following detail description of one preferred embodiment thereof. In the accompanying drawing illustrating such embodiment:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved cradle;

Figure 2 is a side view, with one end partly in section, `showing the split halves of the cradle separated;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan or front elevational view of the cradle;

Figure 4 is an end view; and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through the cradle at one of the spool locations.

The cradle, designated A in its entirety, comprises two split halves or sections A1 and A2 of long rectangular form adapted to mount a series of transversely disposed spools S. The section A1 comprises two parallel side bars 8-8 joined at their ends by end cross bars 9--9. The section A2 comprises two parallel side bars 11-11 joined at their ends by end cross bars 12-12. The two halves or sections A1 and A2 are joined together along a meeting line substantially coincident with the axes of the spools S, with the meeting edges 8', 9' on the side and end bars S and 9 of section A1 engaging the meeting edges 11', 12 on the side and end bars 11 and 12 of section A2.

The strands of wire or other material contained on these spools are adapted to be led from the spools in any conventional manner. The spools S are all carried by the upper or front section A1. At each spool axis, the meeting edges 8 of the side bars 8 of section A are formed with semicircular boss portions 14, and the meeting edges 11 of the side bars 11 of section A2 are formed with corresponding semicircular recesses 15 for receiving these semicircular boss portions 14. Mounted in the side bars 8 and boss portions 14 are bearings 17 for mounting the shafts 18 of the spools S. The shafts 18 have any conventional readily removable mounting in the bearings 17 for permitting ready removal and substitution of the spools S. As shown in Figure 5, each semicircular boss portion 14 may be formed with a projecting web 19 which is received in a scarfed-out notch 21 formed in the outer edge of the semicircular depression or recess 15.

The cradle A is mounted at its opposite ends in the wire twisting machine on a longitudinal axis defined faice by bearings or trunnions carried by the end cross bars 12-12. These trunnions may be in the form of bearing sockets or in the form of bearing pintles. The latter construction is shown, comprising cylindrical bearing stems or pintles 24 which are secured in semicircular bosses 25 projecting from the end cross bars 12-12 of cradle section A2, these semicircular bosses being received in semicircular recesses 26 formed in the end cross bars`9-9 of section A1.

Registration of the two sections A1 and A2 may be' further assured by providing them with matching dowel pins and dowel holes. For example, the meeting edges 11 of section A2 are shown as being provided with dowel pins 28 adapted to be received within dowel holes 29 formed in the meeting edges 8' of section A1.

The spools S may be provided with any conventional or preferred form of brake mechanism, either acting collectively on all of the spools, or being in the form of individual `brake devices for each spool, such as paddle types of brakes engaging the wire at the spools. This brake mechanism may be mounted on either section A1 or A2, but is preferably mounted on the section A2 that does not carry the spools.

Releasable fastening means may be provided for releasably securing the two sections of the cradle together. As illustrative of one exemplary embodiment of fastening means, I` have shown the two cradle sections A1 and A2 provided with matching pairs of lugs 31, 32 projecting outwardly from the end bars 9--9 and 12-12. The lugs 31 are apertured and the lugs 32 have threaded bores for receiving cap screws or bolts 34. These permit ready separation of the two cradle sections.

I claim:

1. In a spool holding cradle for a wire twisting machine, the combination of a cradle frame comprising a rst cradle section which is adapted to remain in the wire twisting machine, trunnion means at opposite ends of said first cradle section for supporting said lirst cradle section in said wire twisting machine about an axis extending longitudinally of said cradle` section, a second cradle section adapted for readily releasable attachment to said iirst cradle section, a plurality of spools carried by said second cradle section and removable with said second section as a unit from said Wire twisting machine, said spools being mounted on parallel axles supported at their opposite ends in said second cradle section and extending substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of said first cradle section, and means for releasably securing said second cradle section to said first cradle section in the wire twisting machine.

2. In a spool holding cradle for a wire twisting machine, the combination of a cradle frame comprising a first cradle section which is adapted to remain in said wire twisting machine and a second cradle section which is readily removable from said machine, end trunnion means carried at opposite ends of said first cradle section for supporting said cradle frame in said wire twisting machine about a longitudinal axis, said two cradle sections being adapted to separate along a longitudinal parting line lying substantially in the plane of said longitudinal axis, a plurality of spools rotatably mounted on parallel axles supported at their opposite ends on said removable cradle section on transverse axes lying substantially in the plane of said longitudinal parting line, and means for releasably securing said two cradle sections together in the wire twisting machine.

3. In a spool holding cradle for a wire twisting machine, the combination of a cradle frame comprising a rst cradle section which is adapted to remain in said Wire twisting machine and a second cradle section which is readily removable from said machine, end trunnion means carried at opposite ends ofisaid tirst cradle section for supporting said cradle frame in said wire twisting machine i about a longitudinal axis, said two cradle sections being adaptedto vseparate -..along alongitudinal parting line, said first cradle section 4having spaced semi-circular recesses .along said parting line', said second cradle section havingl :spaced semi-circular bosses 3, projecting .from .Y said parting line for matching t `within said ,semi-circular recesses, transverse parallel shafts `slvlpported at vtheir opposite ends of said semifcircularbosses, spools rotatably mounted on said transverse shafts, Aand readily releasable fastening means for releasably securing said twocradle Sections together.

4. In a spool holding cradle fora wire twisting machine, the combination of a cradleframe comprising ,a rst cradle section which is adapted to remain in said wire twistingmachine ,and a secondcradle section which is readily removable from `said machine, end trunnion means carried at opposite ends of said first. cradle section for supporting said cradle frame in said wire twisting machine about a longitudinal axis, said two cradle sections having matching meeting edges adapted to separate along a parting plane lying substantially in the plane of said longitudinal axis, said first cradle section having spaced semi-circular recesses formed in its meeting edges, said second cradle section having similarly spaced semicircular bosses projecting from its meeting edges for matching lit within said semi-circular recesses, a plurality of transverse parallel shafts supported at their opposite ends by said semi-circular bosses and lying in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the cradle frame, wire holding spools rotatably mounted on said transverse shafts, and readily releasable fastening means for releasably securing said two cradle sections together.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 438,450 Tracy Oct. 14, 1890 1,153,021 Braithwaite i Sept. 7, 1915 `1,423,487 Meissel `Tuly 18, 1922 y1,652,310 Lederer Dec. 13, 1927 1,976,037 Rawlings Oct. 9, 1934A 2,317,771 vHuber Apr. 27, 1943 

